Workers continue to renovate the old 1913 post office/federal building in downtown North Platte, converting it into an arts center.

For two weeks, students from the North Platte Community College students have built steel frames and installed sheet rock on walls in the basement of the Prairie Arts Center building, dividing the basement into class rooms.

The North Platte Community College Build Construction Division, headed by Gregg Cudzilo, is doing the work.

The college will use some of the rooms next year for three-dimensional art classes such as sculpture and pottery, according to plans.

The renovation of the building for an arts center has been planned for several years and the basement was cleaned up a year ago.

The new walls in the basement are the start of the first phase of reconstruction, which includes the basement, a new elevator and staircase, plus a completely renovated first floor.

When complete, the first floor will contain art galleries, a gift shop, offices and meeting rooms. The building will be 100 years old next year, and the hope is to have the first phase complete and the building open to the public then, said Gene Gilsdorf of the Community Unity Arts Council.

For more about the plans and activities of the Prairie Arts Center, including a virtual tour, see www.prairieartscenter-ne.org.